For a long time, we believed our genes determined our health in an unchangeable way. Today, science shows that our food choices can directly influence the expression of our genes.
This is what two complementary disciplines reveal: nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics. Together, they form the foundation of precision nutrition, a personalised approach to health and prevention.
Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics: two approaches, one goal
The science of nutrigenetics studies how our genes influence our response to nutrients. The science of nutrigenomics, conversely, explores how nutrients can activate or inhibit certain genes.
In other words:
- Nutrigenetics seeks to understand why two people respond differently to the same diet.
- Nutrigenomics explains how our diet changes gene expression.
These two sciences open the way to personalised medicine, which is more preventive and better adapted to each person’s biology.
Nutrigenetics: when our genes shape our relationship with nutrition
In a world where personalised healthcare is becoming the norm, nutrigenetics represents a major advance. It examines how genetic variations influence digestion, metabolism and energy regulation.
Understand individual differences
Some genetic variants modulate our metabolic response to a given nutrient.
This is why two individuals can respond very differently to the same diet.
Practical examples:
- Variations in vitamin D pathways can influence metabolic risk independently of the measured blood level.
- Expression of the FTO gene, associated with obesity, is modified by physical activity and consumption of foods high in sugar or fat.
These examples show that a "risk" gene does not determine your destiny: the environment, diet and lifestyle play equally essential roles.
Towards personalised nutritional prevention
Often, it is not a single gene, but the interaction between several variants that modulates our metabolic vulnerability.
Genetic profiles could therefore become genuine nutritional screening tools, helping identify at-risk individuals and tailor their dietary recommendations in a targeted way.
Nutrigenomics: when our food speaks to our genes
Nutrigenomics examines the opposite effect: how nutrients and bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and fibre modify gene expression.
Our DNA does not change, but the way it is expressed can evolve. This is the very principle of epigenetics.
Nutrients as biological switches
Some nutrients switch genes involved in inflammation, energy metabolism or oxidative stress on or off.
A few well-documented examples:
- The polyphenols in green tea or turmeric reduce the activity of pro-inflammatory genes.
- The omega-3 fatty acids activate PPAR genes, which are involved in regulating fats.
- The vitamins B9 and B12, and methionine contribute to DNA methylation, a key process in epigenetic regulation.
This interaction between food and our cells creates a true molecular dialogue : our diet influences our genes, and our genes determine our nutritional needs.
The rise of personalised nutrition
The combination of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics opens the way to personalised nutrition, capable of adapting micronutrient intake to each person’s genetic profile.
These approaches offer the prospect of targeted prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular conditions.
Precision nutrition remains an emerging discipline, but its potential is immense: it incorporates the interactions between the genome, microbiota, environment and dietary habits to provide truly tailored nutrition.
Understanding these interactions between genes and nutrients also helps explain why certain substances, such as caffeine, do not have the same effects on everyone. To find out more, read our article on Caffeine and genetics.
Train in precision nutrition with ADNAcademy
Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics show that our diet does more than provide energy: it influences the very expression of our genes.
To support this development, healthcare professionals need training in these approaches.
At ADNAcademy, we offer courses dedicated to precision nutrition, to learn how to:
● understand the scientific foundations of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics,
● interpret genetic test results,
● and integrate them practically into clinical or sports practice.
Start learning now and discover how to connect genes to the plate.